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Tokyo Olympics: after Alaphilippe, Bardet also renounces the online event

2021-06-08T16:33:50.544Z


The rider has confirmed that he will not travel to Japan and will focus on the deadlines with his new team,


One less chance of a medal for the Blues.

After Julian Alaphilippe, it's Romain Bardet's turn to officially give up playing the Tokyo Olympics (July 23 - August 8) with the France team.

The French, recent seventh in the Giro won by Colombian Egan Bernal, has announced that he will not travel to Japan this summer, preferring to focus on the deadlines of the team he joined this winter, DSM.

“After a three-way discussion with the team, Thomas (Editor's note: Voeckler, the coach) and myself, we decided that I will not participate in the Olympic Games this year, he explains on Monday to L'Equipe , confirming information from RMC.

We have big goals with DSM that await us at the end of the season and it was not possible to have peak form in Tokyo with this program.

"

He renounces his "Grail"

If Julian Alaphilippe, whose partner Marion Rousse is due to give birth soon, has put forward personal reasons to justify his forfeit, the tricolor climber waives the deadline for purely sporting criteria. In January, the former AG2R La Mondiale rider explained in an interview with France Bleu the importance of the Japanese deadline. “An Olympic title changes dimension as an athlete. At the Olympics, we are no longer just a cyclist, we are an athlete for the French team. It's unique in a career, he said. We are leaving our world of cycling. For me, this is the essence of my sport. An Olympic medal in the world of sport is the Holy Grail ”.

In addition to the absences of Julian Alaphilippe and Romain Bardet, the France team is still unaware of whether it will be able to count on another potential leader, Thibaut Pinot, on the mountainous route around Mount Fuji. The Groupama-FDJ rider is treating his back pain after having been forced to give up the Tour of Italy and no return date has yet been announced. Thomas Voeckler should bet on his partner David Gaudu, on Warren Barguil or Guillaume Martin to try to succeed in Japan.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-06-08

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